sumojoann

What an amazingly well written article! I could not have said it better myself. This is my dream/nightmare (fantasy, if you will)--- >>> I think John Gunning and his team at Inside Sport Japan could probably be the ones to get the ball rolling.....at least the initial kick. They could team up with Hiro Morita, and a few great sumo minds from Sumo Forum, brainstorm like crazy, write a script just like John described ----- that portrays the thrills, heartache, joy, pain and suffering found in the ring and stables. Financing would be a struggle, of course. Maybe they could start a "Kickstarter" fundraiser. I thought this would definitely have to be an "Indie" film and a labor of love. Even if they got a major studio interested, before the studio green-lighted it, they (the studio) would want to change everything about the production, and the filmmakers would end up begging to be let out of their contract. By then, they would be broke. And this ended up being what happened. But just before the major studio was set to release "Rikishi Romp and Rampage" (the truly awful title the studio bestowed on the film), Miyagino rode in on Mongolian horseback to save the day! With his millions of yen, he bought up the master copy of the film plus the copies already sent to the distributors and hacked them to bits with his Samurai sword (the sword that has "DREAM" engraved on it). Miyagino loved being the hero so he decided to join forces with John Gunning and his team, and with Hiro Morita, and with the great minds from Sumo Forum who had worked so diligently on the original film. The final result was a cinematic masterpiece! "RIKISHI." Even the JSA grudgingly approved, especially after it set records at the box office internationally and was nominated for scores of awards. Thanks in part to Miyagino's financial backing, "RIKISHI" had an unlimited budget. And it showed. The production was lush, the cinematography exquisite. The beauty of sumo had never been captured like this and the public could not get enough. Every sumo Youtube video went viral, even Chris Gould's! Kintamayama became an even bigger Superstar. And fortunately, everyone forgot about "Sanctuary." In 2023 the world changed. Sumo became the number one sport in the world. There is hope for our future. Maybe even world peace!

When I wrote, "You will NEVER guess who won.....", I should have added a sarcasm emoji so it would be more obvious!

This "new" episode of Sumo Prime Time is hilarious but also a little sad because so much has happened to these wrestlers since it was filmed in 2020 before Sumo Prime Time existed. This clip features various wrestlers including ex-Hakuho, ex-Kakuryu, current Yokozuna Terunofuji, ex-Goeido as well as Endo, Asanoyama, Tobizaru, Takanosho, Mitakeumi , Takakeisho and Shodai. They are each testing their hand grip strength using a dynamometer to see who has the strongest hand grip. You will NEVER guess who won by a handslide (I mean landslide!!).

It was the Day 13 bout between Wakatakakage and Kotonowaka as @ryafuji posted above. This Abema video I'm posting is a longer version of the bout with more detailed coverage of Wakatakakage's knee injury. It looks like he landed on the tawara just above his right knee. He looked uncomfortable afterwards but I couldn't detect any look of pain. I'm sure the torinaoshi didn't help matters. Shohozan was one of the commentators. Those of you who understand Japanese can undoubtedly add more details as to what happened. What a tragedy.

Here is another interesting account of a visit to Arashio-beya (on April 11, 2 days ago). It was written by a different person than the one who wrote the article above, even though they are both named Laura. This was posted on SumoSumoSumo, a Public Facebook Group. On that day, both Abi and Kiribayama showed up to train with Wakamotoharu. https://www.facebook.com/groups/781646855303002/permalink/2892674434200223/

It's easy to say, "If only this had happened, if only that hadn't happened," but we must live in the world of reality. Terunofuji's incredible comeback and promotion to Yokozuna are the stuff of legend. However, he would need 3 more Yusho to even be considered a Dai-Yokozuna. He needs the distinction of being a Dai-Yokozuna before he can be considered an all-time great Yokozuna. I think he will retire by January 2024 due to injuries he can't overcome, so I don't see that happening. Perhaps he could receive a special award as an Honorary Dai-Yokozuna. He would be among the great Yokozuna and never forgotten, but I don't see him being remembered as an all-time great Yokozuna. A legend ---- yes An all-time great Yokozuna ---- no

https://www.buysumotickets.com/ I have used this company multiple times since 2014. Jeff is the owner and he and his team provide excellent service. Honest, reliable, quick to respond to your questions, never a problem. I bought 11 tickets in 2014 and one ticket every year after that up until the pandemic.

I see he's wearing his Mafia suit again! (My apologies if commenting on his attire is frowned upon).

What a shock! And he's only 45 years old. I'm glad to hear he's going to be okay.

I think Sumo Spiffy means information that is FUN to know about. It DOES sound funny (and a little strange) to categorize the various sumo exercises as "fun" if you're literal-minded! lol

I suggest adding "Kettei-sen" to "USEFUL." "Kettei-sen is often discussed as a possibility and often occurs in at least one of the 6 divisions during a honbasho. Also, in "USEFUL", I would add "Keiko", either by itself, or before "Degeiko" ("Keiko/degeiko") because they both refer to training, just different types. In "ESSENTIAL", "Heya" could be listed as "Heya/beya" because there is confusion among some people as to what the difference is. In "FUN", I would add "Gambarimasu" after "Gambarize" ("Gambarize/gambarimasu") because "Gambarimasu" is THE most common phrase out of the mouth of the rikishi during interviews. Also under "FUN", I would add the various training exercises (you've already listed "Butsukari"). I would add "Suriashi", "Matawari", "Teppo" and I'm sure there are others. (I would remove "Teppo" from "SIDE/OTHER"). Under "SIDE/OTHER", you might consider adding the various types of arena seating (if you think this would be useful for choosing the type of tickets to purchase even though it doesn't have anything to do with understanding sumo itself). Example --- "Masu-seki", other types of box seats and whatever Western-style seats are called in Japanese. Keep up the good work, @Sumo Spiffy!

I noticed you've listed "Chikara-mizu/chikara-mizu." Did you mean "Chikara-mizu/chikara-gami"?

This is a great idea! For the most part, I like how you have organized the words into the various categories. Over the 10 years I have been a sumo fan, I have tried to recruit new fans without much success. It is so difficult to overcome the stereotypes. However, in the process, I have been asked a lot of questions by those who have expressed curiosity, if not outright interest. A list like this would be very helpful to new fans and potential new fans. I'd like to make some suggestions based on the questions I have been asked. These questions all result from what they see, hear and notice, but don't understand. I think the following should be moved to "ESSENTIAL" ---- 1) Kensho --- The first thing I noticed from watching sumo which drove me to Google it, which ultimately sucked me down the rabbit hole of Ozumo. (Some friends thought people were placing bets on the bouts!) 2) Gunbai --- Lots of questions about the gunbai from friends! A shopkeeper in Tokyo once teasingly told me that the referee used the gunbai to spank the wrestlers when they were bad! 3) Nokotta --- Everyone wants to know what he's saying and why. More important than "Te wo suite" (imo). 4) Sagari --- Lot of questions about what they are & their purpose. 5) Shiko --- This image is so associated with sumo by people all over the world, even those who know nothing else about sumo. 6) Shimpan --- My husband called them "The Death Squad" before he understood the correct term! 7) Yobidashi --- They are so visible, there are so many of them, they do so many different things and their clothing is so "different". I get a lot of questions about them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the "USEFUL" category, there should be "Gunbaidori" in addition to "Sashi-chigae" that you've already listed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Should "KADOBAN" be moved to "ESSENTIAL"? Nowadays it's used during EVERY basho, it seems!

Do any of the other sumo venues have zabuton that are nailed down or otherwise attached to where they can't be thrown?

Them suckers are sewn together now, aren't they, so they can no longer be thrown?

I doubt if Kiribayama will get promoted to Ozeki right now. As recently as this past Kyushu (2022) AND Nagoya (2022), he managed only 8-7s. If they look at ONLY Hatsu 2023 and of course Haru, yes he was great (Jun Yusho and Gino-sho at Hatsu 2023), but I think they will see how he follows this up in May.

@Jejima Count me in!!! Give me Kiribayama!! lol

Thank you, @Athenayamafor administering the game and @Jejimafor dreaming it up. A lot of blood, sweat and tears were involved, but you were up to the job. Congratulations to the Yusho winner, Jun-Yusho winner and all those who worked so hard to win a Special Prize. It looks like next time, I need to gambarize and do "Proper Ozumo" in order to end up at the top of the heap. I'm going to hire a Personal Trainer. Maybe that will help!

I have been a fan of Kiribayama since he debuted in Makuuchi in Jan 2020. He made a big splash, winning 11-4 and receiving a Kanto-sho. At the time, I predicted he was on his way to great things. His Instagram page showed 3 pictures of Harumafuji but none of Hakuho. He had big dreams. However, between July 2020 and Jan 2022, he was MK 6 times. I never lost faith in him and I was glad when he bulked up a bit. In this past year, he's gotten all KK and did outstanding in Jan of this year>>> Jun Yusho and winning a Gino-sho. I am so happy he won the Yusho this time. It won't be his last. I am looking forward to the day (soon!) he becomes an Ozeki. Barring injury, he will be a great one with his drive and technical skills. Exciting basho, deserving winner!

Very rarely. I use a very old mini laptop. The day before yesterday I did have a slow-loading problem but that was very unusual. Yesterday and today were fine.

I got spoiled in January. My rikishi, Gonoyama, ended up 8-6. When he got his kachi-koshi, I too got MY kachi-koshi. I was proud! Now I'm make-koshi and don't like it one bit!! And we're only on Day 9. I'm not only disgusted with my rikishi, but also with myself. I definitely need an attitude adjustment. Thank you, Athenayama, for giving me a different --- a better perspective.

I don’t wanna play this game anymore! It’s no fun being second to last :(

Why not Wakamotoharu? From what I have observed of him outside the ring, he's a relaxed, fun-loving guy and can be dramatic and even a little over the top. He really showed his personality during the fan appreciation event last October. He performed a rock song on stage, off-key but with incredible enthusiasm, even leaping off-stage onto the floor and then back up onstage. While playing cards with fans who had purchased VIP tickets, he apparently lost and clutched his forehead dramatically while grimacing. Plus another advantage of choosing him would be the likelihood of him dropping out of sekitori-hood (barring injury) is slim to none. We wouldn't be faced with having to come up with another salt-thrower any time soon, although it's kinda fun, especially if the NSK let the Sumo Forum members decide! Here's the video of Wakamotoharu singing at the fan appreciation event. His performance is from 12:30 to 16:35. (You may have to set the tape back if it jumps ahead).

If I were in your neck of the woods, I would certainly visit you. I'm sure there are many of us here who would like to but unfortunately distance is an obstacle. I like to create homemade greeting cards using cutting dies and I have plenty of "Get Well Soon" dies. I can whip out a card to you if you'll give me an address where you'll be for a while (or an address where you'll be sure to get it). If you have a favorite rikishi on the current banzuke or even one who has recently retired, maybe I could send you a card from both that rikishi and me!

I would like to wish you a very special Happy Birthday!! I don't know what we would do here on Sumo Forum without your incredible wealth and breadth of knowledge of all things sumo. We can always count on you to dig into the archives and come up with interesting photos and previous threads. I personally look forward to and enjoy all of your posts. I'm sure I can speak for others when I say we wish you happiness and fun on your special day and many more Happy Birthdays! sumojoann